Business View Magazine | Volume 9, Issue 3

161 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 3 PORT OF BENTON that lies several miles southeast toward the confluence of the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Port of Benton was established in November 1958, becoming the 46th port in Washington. Diahann Howard, PPM®, Executive Director for the Port of Benton, shares, “Our port is a special purpose government established under state statute with the primary goal of driving economic development and tourism. The port district covers two-thirds of Benton County, has a community of over 50,000 people living within its limits, and covers the cities of Richland, Benton City, and Prosser.” The port’s primary economic lever is logistics. That includes a pair of airports, a short-line rail leased to a short-line operator along with access for Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF to run direct, and a barge facility at River Mile 343 on the Columbia River. “The port’s two airports are Richland Airport, a regional airport that focuses mainly on business and general aviation, and Prosser Airport, a community airport,” says Howard. “Both serve different aspects of the Tri-Cities economy.” The Washington State Department of Transportation recently conducted an Aviation Economic Impact Study of Washington’s public-use airports to measure the annual economic impact that airports provide to local communities, geographic regions, and statewide. The study uncovered the following total economic impact data about the Richland and Prosser Airports: Richland Airport: 682 direct jobs, $44 million in labor income, $65.6 million in value addition, and $114.1 million in business revenues. Prosser Airport: 238 direct jobs, $7.7 million in labor income, $12.3 million in value addition, and $22.2 million in business revenues. Although the port’s airports are a significant economic driver, Howard points out that the Richland Airport Prosser Airport